The birth of a baby involves many unknowns. Expecting parents always want to know:
Unfortunately, there are a few other unknowns that must be addressed as well.
Prevalence of Birth Injuries
Having a baby is an extremely exciting time for parents. There is nothing better than bringing a new life into this world and holding a baby that you created. However, it is also important to be realistic about the statistics that surround birth injuries. In fact, studies estimate that approximately 1 in every 9,714 babies in the United States is born with a birth injury.
We always think that these types of things will “happen to someone else,” but the reality is that the possibility exists for a birth injury to occur in each and every situation. There is no way to fully eliminate this risk.
Types of Medical Malpractice in the Delivery Room
Medical malpractice in the delivery room occurs when a doctor, nurse, hospital, or any other member of the medical team fails to provide a patient with reasonable care, and injury occurs to the patient. While we typically think about the baby when discussing birth-related injuries, this type of medical malpractice also involves injuries that the mother faces.
Infant Injuries
In the U.S., roughly 28,000 infants suffer from a birth injury each year. Some of the most commonly seen birth injuries in babies include:
Mother Injuries
The mother is also extremely vulnerable during labor and delivery. Instances of medical malpractice that involve the mother can occur when the medical team providing treatment fails to:
How Do These Errors Happen?
We rely on doctors, nurses, and medical facilities to provide patients with the best possible care. We put our lives in their hands, and we trust that they will do everything in their power and use all of their knowledge to help both mother and baby through the labor and delivery process. Unfortunately, not all medical professionals treat this responsibility as they should.
While most childbirths go smoothly and without any complications, it is easy for one act of negligence to turn a normal childbirth into an instance of medical malpractice. Especially with so many medical professionals involved in a woman’s labor and delivery, there is plenty of opportunity for something to go wrong. Negligence can occur on behalf of OB/GYNs, labor and delivery nurses, midwives, hospitals, and/or labor and delivery facilities.
For example, let’s say that a mother has been in labor for a while, but things are not progressing. The nurse who has been monitoring the mother and baby notices that the baby is beginning to show signs of distress, and she alerts the doctor of these changes. The doctor fails to do anything or perform a Caesarean section, and the baby is eventually born with brain damage because of oxygen deprivation. Sadly, this negative outcome could have been prevented if the doctor had not been negligent in the medical care that was provided.
Legal Justice for Medical Malpractice in the Delivery Room
If you believe that you, your baby, or a loved one suffered from a severe injury during labor and delivery because of negligence, it is important to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney. The attorneys at Ross Feller Casey are the recognized leaders in birth injury lawsuits in Pennsylvania and across the nation. Contact the leading birth injury lawyers at Ross Feller Casey to learn more about your legal options and to receive a free case evaluation.
Disclaimer: Ross Feller Casey, LLP provides legal advice only after an attorney-client relationship is formed. Our website is an introduction to the firm and does not create a relationship between our attorneys and clients. An attorney-client relationship is formed only after a written agreement is signed by the client and the firm. Because every case is unique, the description of awards and summary of cases successfully handled are not intended to imply or guarantee that same success in other cases. Ross Feller Casey, LLP represents catastrophically injured persons and their families in injury and wrongful death cases, providing legal representation in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.